Category Archives: dogs

May 26, 2017

Eastern Marsh Trail (Salisbury, MA)

Date Of Visit: May 21, 2017

Location: Friedenfels St, Salisbury, MA

Hours: accessible everyday

Cost: Free

Parking: There are 15 total parking spots designated for the rail trail. There are 5 spots in the main parking lot on Friedenfels St at the entrance to the trail. There are also 10 parking spots across the street from the main parking lot. There is a larger parking lot in front of the main parking area that is a private lot. Don’t park there as your car could be towed.

Trail Size/Difficulty: 1.4 miles, flat, easy trail.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes, the main trail is handicapped accessible. The side trails are not accessible due to the rocky trails and steep inclines. There is ramp to the right of the staircase to the trail at the parking area.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: scenic views, wide and easy trail, side trail, dog friendly, family friendly, benches to sit at, wildlife

Fitbit Stats: 1.8 miles, 502 calories, 4,504 steps (one way)

Website: Eastern Marsh Trail

Once the site of a grand railroad that ran from Boston to sections of Boston’s North Shore and New Hampshire, the Eastern Marsh Rail Trail is a true gem of the coastal section of the north shore (cities and towns north of Boston).

The railroad, which would be extended over time, began operating from Boston to Salem in 1838. It would later be extended to Salisbury and other territories in Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 1840.

Alas, the last train crossed the Merrimack River in 1965, leaving behind abandoned rail lines. Eventually, it was proposed that the rail lines should be converted to rail trails. Now, many decades later, instead of being used by noisy engines often carrying dangerous cargo, the rail lines are being used for exercise, dog walking and just enjoying nature.

The 1.4 mile Eastern Marsh Trail connects to the Clipper City Rail Trail to the south and the Ghost Trail to the north.

The Eastern Marsh Trail, which is part of a system of trails along the coastal north shore which includes Newburyport and Salisbury.

The trails at Eastern Marsh Trail are flat with no significant inclines.

The Stevens Trail is a short trail (about .4 mile) that hooks up back to the main trail. There are some views and a cute bridge along the trail. You may see a few chipmunks along the way. It has some minor inclines but I would classify it as easy. This trail is not handicapped accessible due to the rocky terrain and a bridge that only has steps and no ramp.

The views along the trail are beautiful.

There are still remnants from the original railroad at the beginning of the trail. Maybe some day they will revive the rail!

This mural from the Salisbury Art Stroll held on May 13 was still remaining along the trail. I just missed it by a week. But, I may have to drop by next year to check out the art on display. This mural was a collaborative effort worked on by a group of artists.

There were lots of little critters on and off the trail. I would hear rustling in the trees or bushes in one direction only to be distracted by some other sound of activity in another direction.

Birds

turtles

and chipmunks

are just a few of the animals you may see on the trail.

But, birds, chipmunks and turtles aren’t the only animals who frequent the trail.

The trail is a popular with dogs and their walkers.

I love the “side eye” Peter, a 14 year old Golden Retriever, was giving his human walker in the first photo. All he wanted to do was greet me and say hi.

I love how May’s white fur looked against the background. May is a 6 year old Golden Doodle.

Look at the big smiles on Mako (on the right) and Murphy (on the left)! Mako is 6.5 years old and Murphy is 7 years old. They are both Labradors.

12 Comments | tags: birds, chipmunk, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, rail trail, Salisbury, scenic, trail, turtles | posted in birds, chipmunk, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, rail trail, Salisbury, scenic, trail, trails, turtles, Uncategorized

May 22, 2017

Hudson Valley Arabian Horse Show (West Springfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: May 13, 2017

Location: Eastern States Exposition Center, 1305 Memorial Avenue
West Springfield, MA, Coliseum Building (Gate 2) (about 2 hours west of Boston, and 10 minutes west of Springfield, MA)

Cost: Free

Parking: Ample free parking was available at the Exposition Center

Website: Hudson Valley Arabian Horse Association

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: Arabian horses, horse judging contests

If it’s spring time it must be horse showing time at the “Big E.” There are several horse shows scheduled there this spring and summer. Since the weather in New England has been less than “spring-like”, I felt a nice indoor event watching beautiful horses would be the perfect event for a washed out weekend.

Hawk is an Arabian/Pinto horse.

It’s always nice seeing the horses with their riders and trainers. You can see the care they take with each horse and just how much they love their horses.

The Arabian horse show took place over the weekend of May 12-May 14. I attended the morning show on May 13. During my visit, the horses and the riders were being judged. The horses were judged on appearance in the first event.

Then, the horses and riders were judged on their riding skills.

People of all ages rode. The youngest group of riders was the 10 and under group. I am always amazed at how someone so young can control a horse and not show an ounce of fear.

Dogs also like to watch horses apparently.

The person who was dog sitting this dog didn’t know the dog’s name.

This cute little is called Gingo.

If you missed the Hudson Valley Arabian Horse Show, fear not. There are many more horse shows (specifically shows sponsored by the Arabian Horse Club of Connecticut) scheduled in the upcoming weeks and throughout the summer at the “Big E.” See below for a schedule of events at the Exposition Center.

Eastern Exposition Calendar of Events

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7 Comments | tags: dogs, Eastern States Exposition Center, horses, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, West Springfield | posted in dogs, Eastern States Exposition Center, horses, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Uncategorized, West Springfield

May 10, 2017

Ravenswood Park (Gloucester, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: May 7, 2017

Location: 481 Western Ave, Gloucester, MA (about 1 hour northwest of Boston)

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: there are 10 parking spots in the lot outside of the park, parking is also available on the side of the road near the park. 10-20 cars can safely fit in the area by the side of the road

Trail Size/Difficulty: 10 miles of trails and former carriage roads. Moderate hiking. Carriage roads are covered with dense crushed stone and are generally wheelchair accessible.

Handicapped Accessible: The main trail and carriage roads are accessible at least for a while. I walked it for over 2 miles and it was an easy, wide trail. The side trails are much more rocky and challenging.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: wildlife, lakes, vernal pools, easy to moderate trails

Fitbit Stats (distance walked, steps taken and calories burned according to Fitbit watch): 7.8 miles, 17,637 steps, 1,586 calories burned)

Website: Ravenswood Park

Trail Map: Ravenswood Park Trail Map

Although it is more famous for its long stretches of shoreline and its fishing industry, Gloucester is also home to some beautiful parks. Boasting 10 miles of trails and several bodies of water, Ravenswood is teeming with wildlife.

One of the highlight of the park is Fernwood Lake. Fernwood Lake is bisected by a walking path with open areas to photograph the lake and the animals that inhabit. it.

I took the Cedar Swamp Trail and hooked up onto the blue blazed Fernwood Lake Trail. This trail is an easy 3 mile loop with many birds and trees along the path. Of course, I went off trail to get some of my photos and I had to redouble my steps since I got a little lost. So the hike was much more than 3 mile loop. I took this trail partly because I thought it would be less traveled than some of the other trails and it was. I didn’t run into many people taking these trails. It has been a very rainy spring. So there were lots of puddles and the area was very green. The trails can be extremely rocky in some places, especially along the loop I took. I did see a few runners. But, not any cyclists. As a side note, bikes are banned from March 1 until April 30 during the muddy season.

During my hike, I saw evidence of beavers

And I saw these buds which will soon become blueberries.

During my visit, I saw turtles, birds, a few dogs that were visiting as well as some other critters.

Mica is a 5 year old Australian Sheepdog.

From left to right is Masy, a 3 year old Lab, and Riley, a 9 year old Lab.

Lucas is a 9 year old rescue Catahoula.

8 Comments | tags: birds, dogs, Gloucester, Massachusetts, New England, Park, photographs, Photography, photos, snakes, trees, turtles | posted in birds, dogs, Gloucester, Massachusetts, New England, park, snake, Uncategorized

May 6, 2017

Quincy Quarries Reservation (West Quincy, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: April 29, 2017

Location: 77 Ricciuti Drive, West Quincy, MA

Hours: Open daily, sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free

Parking: There is a lot that accommodates about 50 cars next to the reservation. It fills up quickly on nice days. I got the very last spot when I went in the morning.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: rocks for climbers to practice on, easy, gentle trails, graffiti, family friendly, scenic views

Website: Quincy Quarries Reservation

Trail and Rock Climbing Map: Quincy Quarries Rock Climbing And Trail Map

Once the site for swimmers and divers, Quincy Quarry is now a haven for rock climbers, dogs and graffiti artists.

Quincy Quarries Reservation (or as we used to call it “The Quarries”) was originally built in 1825 as a large scale quarry industry, Over the years, however, it has gone through some dramatic changes.

Fun fact: stones from the quarry were used to as the main source of stone for the Bunker Hill monument in Charlestown.

The grassy fields and paves walkways used to be the site of a quarry industry. And water took up most off the area that is now grass and concrete. Business deals (a golf course is located just past where the quarry industries once stood) and a slew of deaths (mostly from diving into the water and some under more mysterious circumstances) at the quarry sparked the debate to fill in the quarries and use the land for business purposes. According to the New York Times, at least 19 people have died there (and who knows how many cars and other objects lied at the bottom of the water). In fact, a post or series of posts could be dedicated to the controversial and mysterious past of the area. So, the quarry was drained in most parts and the area was made into a walking park.

So, where did all the dirt come from to fill in the once watery quarry? Remember he “Big Dig”? Yup, that dirt was used to fill in the drained quarry. There is still some water in the quarry. But, people don’t jump in it anymore. Not only is it very dirty, it is seemingly much more shallow and there is much less of it.

After the last quarry closed in 1963, the area was dormant except for the people, mostly younger kids, who enjoyed diving off the precipitous rocks.

It’s hard to believe this area was mostly just granite and water a few decades ago.

Rocks, paths and grass cover what was once water.

Boy have times changed, The very same quarry that my father used to dive in have largely been filled in and paved over or have become fields. And, instead of jumping off the quarry, people climb up them.

This particular rock was 60 feet high and the path to the top was pretty narrow. But, I made it up.

The groups of climbers all work together to ensure their ascent is a safe one and cheers erupt from the other climbers whenever anyone makes it up.

You can learn a lot when you go on photo shoots. I’ll never complain about my physical obstacles again after watching this climber.

The climbing teams, and it is a team effort, go through great efforts to ensure each climb is safe. The people go over the procedures and safety protocols before each climb. Each person has a role whether it is the person holding onto the line, the device keeping the person suspended or the climber. Still, it’s hard to believe one rope or one board could be the difference between success and failure (although there are other backup safety measures as well). It is very safe if you take the correct measures, though.

Its a long way down.

The funny thing is I am not exactly fond of heights. But, whenever I have my camera with me I get so focused on what I am doing and I don’t really think of the risks as much as getting a good photo.

The views from the rocks are impressive, the skyline of Boston being the highlight of the various views. You can also check on the traffic into Boston from that rock before you leave.

There are several rocks at Quincy Quarry that people use to climb, draw on and just rest on.

The graffiti is one of the first things you will notice upon arriving at the Quincy Quarry Reservation. In fact, it seems to be encouraged.

There was also this creative and romantic proposal scrawled against one of the rocks.

There is also abundant wildlife at Quincy Quarry Reservation. Although they weren’t there (or they were hiding) during my visit, coyotes and deer are known to inhabit the area. I only came across a frog who thought he was hiding from me

a chipmunk

and various birds

I also saw lots of dogs at Quincy Quarry.

Baxter is a 2 year old Border Collie. He may have three legs. But, he is just as beautiful and sweet, if not more, as any other dog I saw that day.

Maddie is a 9 year old mixed shepherd. But, hey, how did she get up there!?

Here is a video from YouTube to give you a sense of how different the quarry looked and just how popular of a spot it was.

video courtesy of Sean Hastings

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8 Comments | tags: birds, dogs, family friendly, Massachuetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, quarries, quarry, Quincy Quarries Reservation, rock climbers, rock climbing, scenic, trees | posted in birds, dogs, family friendly, frog, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, quarries, quarry, Quincy Quarries Reservation, Uncategorized

April 30, 2017

Demarest Lloyd State Park

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: April 23, 2017

Location: Barney’s Joy Road, Dartmouth, MA (about 1.5 hours south of Boston and 45 minutes southeast of Providence, RI)

Hours: The park is generally open from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Park hours in season are 10 am to 6 pm weekdays and 8 am to 6 pm weekends and holidays. You can park at the entrance (a gate prevents access in the off season) and walk the roughly half a mile to the beach

Cost: $12 MA Vehicle, $14 non-MA Vehicle, see website for additional fees for boating

Parking: there is ample parking near the beach after you pay at the entrance.

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes, but they are not allowed on the beach from April 1st to September 15th, unless they are service pets

Website: Demarest Lloyd State Memorial Park

Located along the southern coast of Massachusetts, Demarest Lloyd State Park has some of the prettiest views of any state park I have visited. Its abundant bird population, scenic views and sandbars make Demarest one of the truly special places to visit and get away from it all.

Demarest is a bird lovers paradise, especially during the off season when there are less people, cars and other disturbances to scare them away.

The views at Demarest are truly breath taking.

I kept thinking to myself, sometimes the world is indeed a very beautiful place. It’s important to have places like this treasure to observe and appreciate pure beauty. Demarest was easy to photograph. The hardest part was deciding which photos to post. All I had to do was check my settings and point and click. The beauty was already there, all courtesy of Mother Nature.

It was low tide during my visit. So, I was able to walk out onto some of the sandbars and get up close to some of the gulls at the park.

There were also several lobster pots and other cage-like devices that had washed up along the shore or were being stored there for safe keeping

If you do walk past the beach area, as I did, you should remember to pack or wear an extra pair of walking shoes (flip flops and sandals won’t be adequate) because the path turns from sand to pebbles and seashells. It is worth the walk, though.

One of the few creepy things at the park were these spiders. And they were everywhere. I must have seen dozens of them. So, if you do lie out there on a beach blanket, I’m just saying…but they have a purpose and place here as well.

Dogs like Demarest as well.

Bartley is a 2 year old German Shepherd.

Ranger is a 5 or 6 year old mixed breed dog.

Sadie is an 8 year old Lab.

13 Comments | tags: beach, birds, Demarest Lloyd State Park, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, scenic, views | posted in beach, birds, Dartmouth, Demarest Lloyd State Park, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, park, photographs, photography, photos, scenic, Uncategorized, views

April 14, 2017

DrainSmart (Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: April 9, 2017

Locations: Throughout Salem, MA

Highlights: DrainSmart Mural Project, sights and sounds of Salem

Think twice before you drop that seemingly harmless piece of paper on the sidewalk. That is what the DrainSmart murals located throughout the city of Salem, MA, seem to be saying.

The DrainSmart Program was created to help create awareness of how littering causes so much pollution in our waters. As the murals state, everything that enters the sewers drains to the ocean.

There were 12 murals planned for the city. I photographed 5 of the best looking works. Unfortunately, I could not locate some of the others or the others I did find had been worn away by pedestrian foot traffic and the elements.

Click here to see what they were supposed to look like.

The DrainSmart murals weren’t the only works of art or signs in the area.

Halloween isn’t the only time people dress up in Salem. The Commonwealth Vintage Dancers held a Regency Dance Weekend in Salem, MA, while I was visiting. The participants all wore attire that represented the time they were recreating.

Whenever I am in Salem, I am always taken by the historical significance and the architecture of the area. This building, the Witch House, is the last standing structure with direct ties to the Salem Witch Trials. In this house suspected witches and other people who were considered witnesses were tortured and threatened to confess to participating in witchcraft or witnessing witches.

It’s also fun just walking around and checking out the sights and sounds of Salem, particularly on such a pleasant spring day. They are building a hotel on Essex St and I noticed on the side of this building an old sign for Pickman Place.

It’s always refreshing for me to see buildings that have stood the test of time and still stand today, even if they may have different tenants. I may have an unhealthy attachment to historical buildings and landmarks. They bind us together. In a world that is ever changing and making way for new and better, it’s important to keep our history close at hand as well. Imagine all of the different people who have walked those same streets, enjoyed the very same entertainers we have. These streets could tell stories.

This side street where the Salem Witch Trials Memorial stands will be packed shoulder to shoulder in a mere 200 days. On this day it was desolate.

As was the mall. There is something about the Museum Mall in Salem that seems creepy and kind of scary when there’s not a crowd there.

There were also musicians out in the warm weather. You might not recognize the second musician. He usually plays his instrument with a mask at the very same location during the Halloween season.

There were also some very cute dogs out in Salem during my visit.

Mojo is a 4 year old Airedale and Pointer rescue from Tennessee.

Duke is a 9 month old Hungarian Vizsla. I wonder if he’s related to Dennis?

10 Comments | tags: art, buildings, dogs, historic, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in art, buildings, dogs, historical, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

April 13, 2017

Art In The Park (Lappin Park, Salem, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Event: April 9, 2017

Location: Lappin Park, Essex St, Salem, MA

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Highlights: Aspiring and casual artists painting and drawing works of art

Once known exclusively for the tragic Salem Witch Trials and tales of haunted attractions, Salem, MA, has become a hub of artistic and creative expression. The “Art In The Park” event held last weekend (April 9) at Lappin Park (also known as the park with the Bewitched statue) is proof of this.

This was the first “Art In The Park” event and it was such a success another event has been planned for May (details of the upcoming event can be found near the end of this post). The idea came to a school teacher who resides in Salem, MA. And, the Salem Collective of Arts And Musicians (SCAM) ran with the idea.

Gary, one of the organizers of the event, told me, it was great seeing people from all walks of life, ages and backgrounds getting together to bond over art.

From novices to skilled artists, all were welcome to participate. This family’s work of art was aptly called, “Family.”

This work of art was a collaborative effort with at least 3 or 4 people taking turns working on it.

This work of art was created by the creator of the event, John.

Another Art In The Park event is scheduled for Sunday, May 7 at Lappin Park in Salem, MA , at 11 a.m. Minimal materials will be provided. For more details, check out their Facebook page:Art In The Park.

Below are some photos of the exterior of the SCAM building on Essex St

Although they weren’t interested in painting, I saw a lot of dogs in Salem enjoying the beautiful Salem weather.

Bella is a 2 year old rescue from Alabama. Although her exact breed is not known, her mom thinks she probably has some Lab in her. Either way, she cute’s as a button!

Nora is a 5 year old Chihuahua. Don’t you just love those ears!

As an fyi, the Salem garage (at least the one on New Liberty St where the Museum Plaza is) no longer has attendees in their parking garage. They have automated their pay system. Gone are the friendly faces that greeted you as you entered and left the garage.

Although it seems like a minor change and for the better for some, I’ll actually miss having a person taking my money and wishing me a good day instead of paying a lifeless machine. It’s funny how such a small and seemingly innocuous change can bother me so. I suppose it’s also a sign that things are changing (and I suspect there will be many more changes coming to Salem). Or, it could just be another sign the machines are taking over!

13 Comments | tags: art, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, Photography, photos, Salem | posted in art, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, photographs, photography, photos, Salem, Uncategorized

April 9, 2017

Norris Reservation (Norwell, MA)

By New England Nomad

Date Of Visit: April 8, 2017

Location: 10 Dover St, Norwell, MA (about 30 miles south of Boston)

Hours: Daily sunrise to sunset

Cost: Free for Trustees members, $5 parking fee for non members

Parking: There is a small lot by the entrance for about a dozen cars. It fills up quickly during the summer and other peak times

Handicapped Accessible: No, the trails are too rocky and they often get muddy after rainy days

Park Size and Trail Difficulty: 129 acres, 2 miles loop trail, 2.5-3 miles of trails if you walk the side trails. Trails are easy and accessible for people of all ages.

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: ponds, streams, boardwalks, old mill site, old boat house, herring and other fish, birds, if you’re lucky you might see a beaver or other type of wildlife

Lowlights: Be careful of ticks (I brought home 3 with me)

Web Site: Norris Reservation

Trail Map: Norris Reservation Trail Map

Once the site of a mill and the current site of an old boat house, Norris Reservation boasts white pine and oak trees, wetlands and a boardwalk teeming with wildlife as well as pretty trees with leaves that look like they’re still in foliage, pretty rock formations and plant life.

Truly a hidden jewel ( be careful driving to the parking lot- I drove past the entrance and had to enter through the exit of the small parking lot), Norris Reservation is a fine park to visit throughout the year. During the winter, trails can be accessed with snowshoes if needed. The flowers and trees are vibrant during the spring and summer and the trees are ablaze with foliage during the fall. During my visit, it was a rather average spring day. It was windy to begin but settled into a pretty standard spring day, albeit a bit on the cold side. You can see the ripples in the water from the wind in some of the photos.

Along the walkway as you enter the reservation along Eleanor’s Path (named after the benefactor of the park, Eleanor Norris), there is a pond and a little waterfall.

I got to break out my new gear, my Canon EOS 8D for this shoot. So, I was very excited to take it on for a test drive. I’m still getting used to the buttons and how it operates. But, I hope the photos are an improvement from my previous shots, especially as I get more familiar with it.

The main trail at Norris Reservation is probably the red trail which eventually takes you to Gordon’s Pond. Gordon’s Pond has a boardwalk with scenic views and a small waterfall. The pond is encircled with trees and it is popular with fishing enthusiasts.

Named after Albert P. Norris, whose wife donated the land upon his death, Norris Reservation hugs the North River which was once the center of pre-Colonial era ship building. Along these side trails, you can find a lot of scenic views and bird life.

Along the McMullan Trail is the old boathouse. I’m not sure if it’s operational for use and you’re not allowed to tie boats or dock there. But, it is a nice place to hang out on the deck and take in the beauty of the area.

There is also a granite block in the Granite Boulders section of the trail.

There is also an abundance of birds at Norris Reservation. I was able to shoot this robin, some black birds and a baby loon at the park.

Norris Reservation is an ideal place to take your pooch for a walk. I saw dozens of cute dogs during my hike at Norris. Below are some of the more photogenic dogs I saw on the trails.

Argos is an 11 month old White Shepherd. I had never seen such a fluffy, cute pure white dog. He really did stand out to me.

Delilah (on the left) is a 2 year old Boston Terrier and Harley is a 10 year old Yorkie and Shih Tzu mix. They posed so well!

Colby is a 7 and a half Bernese Mountain Dog. What a cute smile!

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16 Comments | tags: birds, boathouse, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, Norwell, photographs, Photography, photos, ponds, trees | posted in birds, boathouse, dogs, Massachusetts, New England, Norwell, photographs, photography, photos, pond, Uncategorized

March 1, 2017

Beach Polo (Newport, RI)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: February 25 & 26, 2017 (photos taken Feb. 25)

Location: Easton’s Beach (First Beach), 175 Memorial Blvd, Newport, RI

Hours: 1:00 -2:30 p.m.

Cost: Free

Parking: Free (parking was free for this event but usually the beach charges to park at the beach)

Handicapped Accessible: Yes

Dog Friendly: Yes

Highlights: people on horses playing beach polo

It’s not everyday you get to see polo. It’s even less often when you get to see it on a beach.

As part of their “Winter Carnival”, Newport Rhode Island held a polo match sponsored by the Newport International Polo Series.

Even if you don’t know the rules of the game (I don’t), it is still fun to watch the horses and players. There was also an announcer who did the play by play and explained some of the rules during the game.

While there are some rules of the game I don’t know, the basic goal (no pun intended) is pretty basic. Put the ball between the two orange cones. The team in gold won 10-9 by the way.

The horses looked especially pretty with the wavy water along the beach. Onee thing I noticed about the horses is how they will sometimes use their legs to kick the ball and help the player. Or, they are sick of the player getting all the glory and they may want to score a goal or two.

The players all seemed to really have a lot of fun but they also play hard. And the game is not without risks. One player had to be carted away with a leg injury after she fell off her horse.

Dogs like polo, too. I was surprised and impressed how well the leashed dogs and horses coexisted.

The players and fans have a close connection. At the end of the match, the players trot by on their horses and greet the fans.

12 Comments | tags: beach, beach polo, dogs, horses, New England, Newport, photographs, Photography, photos, polo, Rhode Island | posted in beach, beach polo, dogs, horses, New England, Newport, photographs, photography, photos, Rhode Island, Uncategorized

February 17, 2017

Greenfield Arctic Blast Winterfest (Greenfield, MA)

By New England Nomad

Dates Of Event: February 3-5, 2017 (the first weekend in February each year) photos taken February 5

Location(s): All over the town of Greenfield, most events held at Beacon Field, 61 Beacon St, Greenfield, MA)

Cost: Free (there are small fees for some activites such as $5 to skate at the public outdoor ice rink)

Hours: 9 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Parking: limited parking can be found at the parking lot for Beacon Field. Street parking is also available

Highlights: carnivsl hockey, sleigh rides, sled making contest, k9 keg pull, ice sculptures, family friendly activities (see web site below for more info)

Web Site: Greenfield Artic Blast Winterfest

It’s that timee of the year again. You know that time in between the “fun” part of winter and the coming spring. The holidays have passed, the seemingly never-ending chill is still fast upon us, snow has stopped looking “pretty” and everyone is just eager to be able to go outside without layering so much that they look like the Michelin man. So, to bring a little cheer to the frustrated masses, many cities and towns have organized “winterfests” or “winter carnivals” to get everyone out of their ruts and bring some cheer to the frozen masses.

Winterfests are not some new fangled celebrations. In fact, this was Greenfield’s 95th winterfest. I guess people got the doldrums back then, too.

The three day event (the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday in February) is a family friendly extravaganza. Besides what I photographed dueing my visit Sunday, there are a bonfire, fireworks and a “family fun fest” event for kids to play and do a variety of events with other children and their parents.

The first thing I noticed, and I was looking for specifically, was the winter carnival hockey game between the Greenfield Sheriff’s Department and the Franklin County Firefighters. The shortened rink and lack of goalies (they used boxes with holes in them to try to score goals), allowed for more action and more scoring chances.

There wasn’t much checking and not one fight (perhaps a first in a game between firefighters and police). But, it was still entertaining. I didn’t get a final score. But, the Sheriff’s department (in the green jerseys) had a comfortable lead when I left to check out more of the winterfest.

In between breaks, some kids came out and practiced. Future players for sure.

Most of the events during my visit took place at Beacon Field. In some of the photos, you may notice the Poet’s Seat Tower which I posted about in May of last year.

The first thing I noticed was the sleigh rides being provided.

Some children took advantage of the hill at the park to do some sledding.

Some of the children brought their home made sleds to the park for a contest. The sleds were judged but they didn’t take them on the hill perhaps due to the lack of a good snow covering.

The big event for most of us, though, was the K9 Keg Pull. Dogs from a variety of breeds, sozes, shapes and physical prowess participated. The size of the (empty) kegs and cans the dogs pulled were commensurate to their size. There was a small registration fee ($25 I think) and all of the proceeds went to a animal shelter.

There were over 60 participants and they all did great. The parents or guardians would usually run with their dog ot urge them on from the finish line. Sometimees it seemed like the parents were having more fun with it than the dogs!

Bodie and Clarence (left to right) were twoo of the bigger competitors.

Not all of the dogs there were participating in the keg pulls

Sadie is a 2 year old Lab mix.

Duncan is a 14 week old mini-poodle.

There were also ice sculptures scattered around the town. Of course, most of them had been damaged or destroyed by revelers. I was able to photograph a couple of them.